Chapter 19

           SittingathisBonndeskwithanearly-morningcupofcoffee,RainerlearnedofCardinaldeBricassart’sdeathfromhisnewspaper.Thepoliticalstormofthepastfewweekswasdiminishingatlast,sohehadsettledtoenjoyhisreadingwiththeprospectofsoonseeingJustinetocolorhismood,andunperturbedbyherrecentsilence.Thathedeemedtypical;shewasfarfromreadyyettoadmittheextentofhercommitmenttohim.

           ButthenewsoftheCardinal’sdeathdroveallthoughtofJustineaway.TenminuteslaterhewasbehindthewheelofaMercedes280SL,headingfortheautobahn.ThepooroldmanVittoriowouldbesoalone,andhisburdenwasheavyatthebestoftimes.Quickertodrive;bythetimehefiddledaroundwaitingforaflight,gottoandfromairports,hecouldbeattheVatican.Anditwassomethingpositivetodo,somethinghecouldcontrolhimself,alwaysanimportantconsiderationtoamanlikehim.

           FromCardinalVittoriohelearnedthewholestory,tooshockedatfirsttowonderwhyJustinehadn’tthoughttocontacthim.

           "Hecametomeandaskedme,didIknowDanewashisson?"thegentlevoicesaid,whilethegentlehandssmoothedtheblue-greybackofNatasha.

           "Andyousaid?"

           "IsaidIhadguessed.Icouldnottellhimmore.Butoh,hisface!Hisface!Iwept."

           "Itkilledhim,ofcourse.ThelasttimeIsawhimIthoughthewasn’twell,buthelaughedatmysuggestionthatheseeadoctor."

           "ItisasGodwills.IthinkRalphdeBricassartwasoneofthemosttormentedmenIhaveeverknown.